USA > North Carolina > History of North Carolina, V I pt 2 > Part 25
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The spirit of the people
Severe indeed was the disaster, and for it Gates was vig- orously condemned. "There are three capital . . . errors ascribed" to General Gates, wrote Davis to Willie Jones. "First, in not ordering a place of rendezvous in case of a de- feat : secondly, in not having the baggage secured, it re- maining all the while with the army ; and thirdly, in quitting the field of action some time before the regulars gave way, and riding post to Hillsboro, two hundred and thirty miles in seventy-five hours. He is . . . execrated by the officers, unrevered by the soldiers and hated by the people."*
Not only was the large army that had been collected at great pains and expense destroyed, but all the artillery. two thousand stands of arms and nearly all the military stores sent to the south by congress fell into the hands of the enemy. Following so swiftly on the loss of the entire con- tinental line at Charleston, this blow was an immeasurable calamity to the State. The dark hours that try men's souls had indeed come.' The loss of brave and courageous soldiers at the north and the annihilation of the continental bat- talions robbed the State of thousands of her choicest spirits. But those who remained did not falter : the resolution of the North Carolina patriots never wavered, and their courage rose higher and higher under the calamities that had be- fallen them. As deplorable and distressing as the situation was, it was bravely met. Immediate preparation was made
*On the other hand, consider the opinion of Lee, a soldier, and compare it with Davis, the civilian: "This rapid retreat of General Gates has been generally supposed to diminish his reputation. Not so. in truth. It does him honor, as it evinced a mind capable, amidst confusion and distress, of discerning the point most promising to renew with expedition his strength: at the same time incapable of being withheld from doing his duty. by regarding the calummy with which he was sure to be assailed." ( Lee's Memoirs, 100, ed. 1827.)
North Carolina Uni. Mag., IV, 81 (1855)
625
SUPPLIES FROM ABROAD
to resist the invasion that was now imminent ; but for the moment North Carolina was defenceless and lay open to the conqueror.
Fortunately, other supplies were within reach. Trade between our ports and the West Indies was never entirely arrested, and many valuable cargoes continued to be in- ported : nor had the practice ceased of sending out privateers to prey on British commerce and make prizes of merchant- men. So it happened that several vessels came in just about the time Gates lost his stores, bringing cargoes tending to supply those losses. In particular, on September 4th there arrived in the Cape Fear two prizes made by the privateer General Nash, one cargo being invoiced at £10.000 and the other at £40.000 sterling, the latter being one of the most valuable captures made during the war, and having on board nearly everything desired for the soldiers. About the same time the Marquis of Bretigny also reached New Bern, bring- ing a quantity of powder, four hundred stands of arms, pistols, saddles, and accoutrements; while Dr. Guion's schooner likewise arrived with additional supplies. In fact, the enterprise displayed by the merchants was no less remunerative to them than beneficial to the State. It was also harassing to the enemy. Governor Nash in December mentioned in a letter to General Washington : "The enemy have not been entirely free of trouble off Charleston ; and on the coast in that quarter during this summer they have suffered very considerably by our privateers, particularly by open rowboats. These boats, with forty or fifty men aboard, take almost everything that comes in their way. Two that went out in company returned here this week after a leave of about twenty days, in which time they took and sent in twelve valuable prizes, besides burning, I think, four."
All now was activity in the State. Smallwood established a camp at Salisbury, where the sick and wounded were assembled. Such ammunition and stores as remained at Mack's Ferry were speedily brought to the same point, and there began the nucleus of a new organization. General Harrington, with several companies of militia from Duplin, Onslow, Bladen, Cumberland and some of the Albemarle
1730
Importa- tions
S. R .. XV, 70, 72
Enterprise on the water
626
NASH'S ADMINISTRATION, 1780-SI
counties, aggregating in all four hundred and fifty men, kept a vigilant watch and guarded the stores at Fayetteville. In his front, toward the coast, was Marion with a few horse- men, and over in Anson Colonel Kobb,* while down the Peedee the brave and energetic Kenan, of Duplin. patrolled with his squadron of horse. Farther to the west Davie and Davidson kept watch and ward.
Governor Nash had called the Assembly together to meet at Hillsboro on August 12th, but a quorum of members had not reached there on the 23d. Time being precious, the members who had convened united in recommending that the governor should call out one-half of the militia of the State and direct the commanding officers to appoint com- missioners to obtain the necessary supplies, cither by pur- Sumner given a brigade chase or impressment. Accordingly, the militia was directed to assemble at Hillsboro, Salisbury, and Charlotte. Gen- eral Caswell despatched messengers to intercept the militia regiments of Jarvis. Exum, and Pasteur, and to direct them to Ramsey's Mills, in Chatham, where a few days later he himself arrived. the strength of the brigade being some eight S. R., XIV, hundred men. To command it Governor Nash assigned 573 General Sumner. as the most experienced officer of the State. On September 3d Caswell and Sumner proceeded with the brigade by way of Pittsboro to the encampment at Salisbury.
The Assembly acts
When the Assembly met, and it was not until Septem- ber 5th that a quorum was assembled, it addressed itself with vigor to preparations of defence. Responding to the recommendation of the governor, it levied a tax in kind to be at once collected out of the abundant harvest. For every fioo value of property each inhabitant was required to fur- nish one peck of Indian corn or three pounds of good pork,
*Colonel Kobb was afterward murdered by the Tories. "Among the many murder- and house burnings perpetrated by this banditti,' says Lee in his Memoirs, page 553. "that of Colonel Kobb was singularly atrocious. A party of them, led by a Captain Jones, surprised the colonel on a visit to his family. He defended his house until he was induced by a promise of personal safety to surrender as a prisoner of war, when he was immediately murdered in the presence of his wife and children and his house burned."
S R .. XXIV, 344
627
BOARD OF IFAR ORGANIZED
or other provisions enumerated in the act. except that the inhabitants of Carteret might deliver instead a gallon of salt : and the Quakers. Moravians and "non-jurors" were to pay their entire tax in provisions. A loan of £1,000,000 was also directed to be made, while for the present the confiscation act was suspended. Many persons being in custody on the charge of opposing the State in its defence. for the "speedy trial of traitors" the magistrates of the different counties were given authority to try them, no counsel being allowed either for or against any prisoner. who, however, was at liberty to make his own defence, and should have reasonable time to prepare for trial : and there was to be no arrest of judgment in any case if the proceed- ing was of sufficient substance to convict.
September
l'rial of Tories
The Board of War
Governor Nash had reported to the Assembly that the members of his council did not attend its meetings and gave him no aid: and he urged that other appointments should be made; and he also recommended that a Board of War should be createdl, who would share with him the responsi- bility of conducting military matters when the Assembly was not in session. Accordingly the Assembly created a Board of War. composed of Colonel Alexander Martin. John Penn, an 1 Oroondates Davis, investing it with great powers, especially for concerting a general plan of opera- tions for the defence of the State and carrying it into execu- tion. General Harrington had somewhat earlier been ap- pointed brigadier-general of the Salisbury district during the absence of General Rutherford. and now that Rutherford had fallen into the hands of the enemy the Assembly elected Colonel Davidson to that position. Harrington promptly tendered his resignation, but nevertheless, because of the emergency, he continued to act under his commission as brigadier, rendering efficient service on the southeastern border. General Smallwood, of the Maryland line, was en- joying a high reputation because of his admirable conduct at Camden, quite in contrast with the prevalent idea of the conduct of Gates and Caswell : and the Assembly tendered him the position of major-general and commander-in-chief
Board of
S. R., XXIV. 355: XIV. 370; XV. 139-141 .
Gen. Davidson
Smallwood supersedes Caswell
T
628
VAISH'S ADMINISTRATION. 1780-81
1780
S. R., XV, 131
of all the militia of the State, thus superseding Caswell, and giving Smallwood precedence over all the officers in the southern army except alone General Gates. This action virtually retiring him, Caswell indignantly resented: and he returned to his home at Kingston. A month later he wrote to Governor Nash, reminding him that "in the spring he had not only been appointed major-general to command the militia. but as well a member of the board to conduct trade in behalf of the State: and that as the Assembly had been pleased to dismiss him from the command of the militia. it 's probable it would have dismissed him also from the Board of Trade had it occurred to them that he had been appointed a member of that board"; and so with some warmth he tendered his resignation of this latter position. For a time he remained entirely quiet.
2
محدث
دشنه على تكمية السرى
١
.PA"
٢٦:٨ ٠١٠٠٠١٣٣
1. JOSEPH WINSTON
2. JOSEPH GRAHAM
3. JOSEPH MCDOWELL (Quaker Meadows) 4. WILLIAM POLK
CHAPTER XXXVI
NASH'S ADMINISTRATION, 1780-81-Continued
Cornwallis moves to Charlotte .- Davie's gallant defence .- The activity of the Mecklenburgers .- Governor Martin's proclamation .- Movement on Augusta .-- Ferguson marches westward .- The fron- tiersmen assemble -Battle of King's Mountain .- Death of Chronicle. -The victory gives great joy .- Its effects .- Cornwallis retires .- His gloomy outlook .- Leslie in Virginia .- Moves to Camden .- Gates moves forward .- Cornwallis's disappointment .- Arrival of Greene .- +. His activity .- His forward movement .- The new year .- The Council Extraordinary .-- Caswell reinstated .- Four new continental battal- ions .- No party divisions .- During Caswell's administration .- Nash's administration .- Dr. Burke's zeal to correct abuses .- Sam Johnston declines the presidency of congress.
Cornwallis moves to Charlotte
After the rout of Gates's army Cornwallis occupied him- self at Cam'en arranging for the administration of civil Lee's Memoirs. 193-196 and military affairs in South Carolina, and then the time being at hand for him to invade North Carolina, he moved to Waxhaw on September 8th, resting there for the Tories to embody and join him. Tarleton was thrown on his left toward Ferguson, who was operating on the frontier. At first while the British army lay at Waxhaw Colonel Davie alone was at its front. With a command not exceeding Wahab's one hundred and fifty men. that enterprising officer on Sep- tember 20th, by a circuitous march, fell on a detachment of some three hundred of the enemy at Wahab's plantation. routed them and brought off ninety-six horses, a hundred and twenty stands of arms, returning to his camp that same Sumner at the front evening, having marched in less than twenty-four hours no less than sixty miles. On the same day Sumner and David- S. R., XIV, son reached his camp with a thousand militia. Four days 647 later Cornwallis renewed his movement. advancing on Charlotte, and Sumner and Davidson fell back toward Salisbury.
1780
-
--------
.
2º
630
V.ISTES ADMINISTR.ITION, 1780-8 1
1-30 Davidson turned to the west. while Summer took post at S. R., XIV. 330. 410, 681, 775; XV, 89 McGowan's Creek, where early in October General Butler's brigade of seven hundred joined him. General Jones with the Halifax brigade hal been ordered to join Harrington New forces concentrate in front of Campbellton. but he, too. was now marching with all haste to Summer's camp. Colonel William Washington had enlisted some hundred troopers also in the eastern counties, and he with other partisan leaders were concen- S. R., XIV, trating at Salisbury. General Smallwood and Colonel Mor- 412 gan already in high reputation on October 7th, left Hillsboro for the front. Everywhere there was displayed the same energy and spirit. It was estimated that there were five thousand men concentrating for defence. The Board of War, however, was emphatic in directions that a general engagement was to be avoided, for a second defeat at that time would have had a most disastrous effect on the inhabi- tants and on the spirit of the militia, who had now in some measure rallied from the depression caused by the disaster at Camden.
Davie's gallant defence
Graham's Graham, 251 . Sept., 1,80 Davie with his troop of horse, now augmented by a few volunteers under Major Joseph Graham, remained to ob- serve the enemy. On the night of the 25th he took a num- ber of prisoners. and then himself retired to Charlotte. Early the next morning Tarleton's legion with some light infantry was seen advancing, followed by the main body. Determined to make a defence, Davie disposed of his small force advantageously at the court-house, and when the At Charlotte enemy, sounding a charge, advanced at a full gallop, he opened fire and drove them back with great precipitation. A second and third charge was similarly repelled: but at length the infantry turned his flank, and in good order Davie withdrew his companies. each in turn covering the other, and made a successful retreat. The enemy followed cautiously for some distance, when they ventured to charge the rear guard. They were stubbornly resisted and driven Locke killed off, but unfortunately not without loss: Lieutenant Locke and four privates were killed, and Major Graham and five
631
D.IT'IE'S DEFENCE OF CHARLOTTE
others were wounded .* The following day after this brilliant affair at Charlotte Davic joined the army at Salisbury, but on the union of some mounted infantry from Granville under Colonel Tavior with his corps he felt strong enough to return to the immediate front of Cornwallis, who estab- lished himself at Charlotte.
The activity of the Mecklenburgers
As trying as were the difficulties which beset the Ameri- can commanders for the want of provisions, the troubles of Cornwallis on the same score were much greater. His foraging parties brought in but little, and they were so sorely harassed by Davie that the British army fell into sore distress for want of forage and supplies.
At Charlotte there were but a few houses, but it was a desirable location for an army because of the numerous mills in the immediate vicinity, at which corn and wheat could be ground for the use of the troops. At Polk's Mill, two miles distant from Charlotte, Cornwallis stationed a detachment of fifty men. and on September 28th Major Dickson with sixty cavairymen made the entire circuit around Charlotte and attacked that post. He was repulsed, but the assault added to the disagreeable position of the British commander. Five days later he despatched a de- tachment of four hundred and fifty infantry, sixty cavalry and forty wagons under Major Doyle toward the fertile fields of Long Creek, some ten miles to the northwest of Charlotte. to bring in forage and supplies. At McIntyre's farm a party of a hundred men and ten wagons was left to gather forage, while the others continued on. Captain James Thompson and thirteen of his brave neighbors reso- lutely attacked this party, and so vigorously that eight of them were killed and twelve wounded. Doyle was so alarmed by this unexpected assault that he hastened back, picked up his dead and wounded and then fled precipitately, having obtained only forage enough to load four wagons.
*In this encounter at the Cross Roads. St. George Locke, a son of General Matthew Locke, was literally cut to pieces in a most bar- barous manner. while Captain Joseph Graham. in addition to being wounded three times with balls, received six sabre cuts and was left on the field for dead.
1780 - September
Graham's Graham, 258, 260
Polk's Mill
McIntyre's
632
NASH'S ADMINISTRATION, 1780-81
1735 -- October
Graham's Graham, .64, 265
Governor Martin's proclamation
Accompanying Cornwallis was the royal governor. Josiah Martin, who now entered the State for the first time since he departed from the Cape Fear in May, 1776. Hoping much from the Tories and disaffected inhabitants, who he conceived were attached to him personally, on October 34 he issued an earnest address seriously and solemnly calling on the faithful subjects of his Majesty with heart and hand to join and unite with the army, and exhorting all the young men to testify their loyalty and spirit by enlisting in a provincial corps to be under his immediate command ; and offering a bounty of tliree guineas, full pay and free grants of land at the end of the rebellion. Couriers were at once sent off to disseminate this proclamation both to the west and the east, but before it could have operation came the news of the destruction of Ferguson's corps, which effectually suppressed all Tory risings.
Movement on Augusta
Although the southern Indians adhered to the British, looking to the king of Great Britain for protection against the inroads of the colonists, intercourse with them was con- stantly maintained by Colonel Joseph Martin, specially em- ployed in that service, and he managed with such skill. wisdom and prudence. that during that critical period of the war. they remained quiet, and the western borders were not menaced with the peril of a savage warfare.
This fortunate circumstance left the frontiersmen free to take the field away from home when called upon. Some- what earlier than Cornwallis's advance several detachments had embodied under local leaders with the purpose of attack- Lee's Memoirs, 198, 20) ing Augusta, where a large supply of arms, ammunition, blankets, salt and other commodities intended as the annual S. R., XV, 94 present to the Indians was then stored. Eventually all these united under Colonel Clarke, who marched toward Augusta. Garden Hill The British commander, Colonel Browne, having informa- tion of their approach, retired toward Ninety-six, but was overtaken at Garden Hill, where he fortified and gallantly S. R., XIV, defended himself, awaiting relief. After four days of siege 424 relief came, and Colonel Clarke was forced to retire, carry-
Joseph Martin
DEFEAT OF FERGUSON
633
ing with him. however, a large amount of the Indian goods that had fallen into his hands. In the meantime other movements had been made among the frontiersmen, even as remote as Watauga and western Virginia.
Ferguson marches westward
To counteract these movements Cornwallis had detached Major Ferguson, an accomplished officer, with three hun- dred regulars and a small body of Loyalists, to proceed toward the frontier, arouse the Tories, collect provisions and suppress the Whig inhabitants. He was not only supplied with ammunition, but carried with him a thousand stand of arms for the Loyalists who were expected to join his force. Marching through upper South Carolina and then into North Carolina, Ferguson himself stopped at Gil- bert Town. but a detachment penetrated as far as Morgan- ton, and word was spread that he proposed to destroy all the Whig settlements. This information. instead of acting as a deterrent, aroused the Whigs of the frontier. who were already embodied ready for action. On September 14th Gen. William Lee Davidson ordered Armstrong. Cleveland and Locke to unite their forces and arrest Ferguson's prog- ress ; and the other Whig leaders were also moving. They resolved.on Ferguson's destruction. Campbell. from Virginia. The corps ul.ite joined Shelby and Sevier at Watauga, their united forces numbering nine hundred men, and on September 25th crossed the mountains, where they were met by Colonel Mc- Dowell with a hundred and sixty others, and on the 30th, on the banks of the Catawba. they were reinforced by Cleve- land with three hundred and fifty men of the counties of Wilkes and Surry. Marching south on the evening of Octo- S. R .. XV. ber 6th, they were joined near Cowpens by Colonel Wil- 94 liams's force of four hundred. There information was re- ceived that Ferguson was near the Cherokee ford of Broad River, about thirty miles distant. A council of the principal S R., XV 106 officers was held. and it was thought advisable to set out that night with nine hundred of the best horsemen, leaving the others to follow as fast as possible. Marching all night, at three o'clock the next afternoon they reached the vicinity of Ferguson's corps.
1790 -
September
S. R., XV, 163
Davidson's orders
S R., XIV, 515
634
V.ISH'S _IDMINISTR.ITION, 1780-81
1730 King's Mon tain, Out. 7th
S. R., XV, 116. 164
S. R., XV, 164
Death of Ferguson
Ferguson, having information of the approach of a Whig column, had taken a strong position on the top of King's Mountain, twelve miles distant from the ford, and in full confidence that he could not be forced from a post possess ing such natural advantages. The assailants were formed into three divisions, and coolly ascende I the mountain from different directions. The day was wet, and their approach being fortunately undiscovered, the Whigs easily took the British pickets. As the column was arranged, the Washing- ton and Sullivan regiments, gaining their positions first. began the attack on the front and left flank: to the North Carolinians under Winston, Sevier and Cleveland was assigned the attack on the rear and other flank. Campbell on the centre opened a destructive fire, but Ferguson re- sorted to the bayonet and forced him back. At that instant, however. Shelby poured in a volley, alike effective. Fergu- son turned furiously on this new foe, advancing with the bayonet : but Shelby, having reached the summit of the eminence. drove the British along the ridge to where Cleve- land commanded, and his brave men stopped them in that quarter. Undismayed by this unexpected resistance, Fergu- son now made a grand rally, his men fighting desperately ; but all the Whig divisions acting in co-operation, the Tory force could make but slight impression. Ferguson used the Shelby. Sevier, Hambright, and Winston, and Major Shelby, and for an hour the battle raged without abatement. At length the British commander sought to escape on horse- back, but fell dead trying to force his way.
The victory
The fire of the beleaguered Tories now slackened, and soon there was unconditional surrender. Of Ferguson's force 300 were killed or wounded: 100 regulars and 700 Loyalists were taken, and 1500 stands of arms fell into the possession of the Whigs. The loss of the assailants was small. but among the killed was Colonel Williams,* of South Carolina, distinguished as one of the most active and reso-
*Colonel James Williams. a native of Granville County, N. C .. then resident in South Carolina, on application had been allowed by North Carolina $25.000 to raise troops for the defence of North Carolina. He had under him troops raised in North Carolina. a> woll perhaps as in South Carolina. (S. R .. XXI. 75: Graham's Graham. 263.)
635
DEBEAT OF FERGUSON
1780
lute of the partisan leaders, and Major William Chronicle, whose loss was greatly lamented. It was night before the prisoners were all secured, and the victors slept on the bat- tlefield : but early the next morning they set off northward with their prisoners under the command of Colonel Camp- bell.
Later, General Gates directed that the eight hundred S. R., XV, prisoners should be conveyed to Fincastle. Va .; but on 115 reaching Surry County they were turned over to Colonel Martin Armstrong, and within two months all but a hun- The prisoners dred and thirty of them were either dismissed, paroled or enlisted in the military service for three months. There was great hope of using these prisoners for the purposes of exchange to set free an equal number held by the British, and much disappointment was felt when this design was frustrated by Colonel Armstrong's inexpedient conduct : nor S. R., XVII, did he escape without severe and indignant criticism, and 668 the Assembly deprived him of his commission.
The victory gives great joy
The movement of the Whigs at the west was not unknown to Davie, Sumner. and Gates, and they were in anxious expectancy.
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